So a couple of days ago I posted many questions on twitter referring to my goals and what I am looking to do as I move forward in the web 2.0 space. One of the questions was in reference to producing a podcast. I thought I would need a new computer, a wireless router and a plan! Currently I have high speed Verizon DSL installed in my house, but my ten year old dell has a small processor, and very little room to grow.

Folks said that a Macbook or MacBook pro would be the best bet for someone who pretty much wants a system that is designed for artists, video production, and audio production. My beautiful fiance Michelle helped on that front and ordered me a MacBook Pro. I have also learned that my good friend Zen_Jewitch on twitter has graciously offered me a wireless router that he had, and is currently not using. (Thank you Zen)
Wow, what a week man. And on top of all that sales of my lathe turned wine bottle stoppers have been great, and I am talking to a few other wineries at the moment about having them carry the stoppers as well. If you know anyone with a winery or a wine shop that would be interested I would love the referral.

So, looks like it is moving forward and I have one last question for my community. I am going to be doing a video podcast of my Woodturning, as well as doing an audio interview series with creative type people in many fields. I will discuss not only woodturning, but marketing for artists, web 2.0, social networking, trade shows, and any other subjects of interest to those in the creative field.

The name for the Podcast is what I am questioning. I have an idea, and I’d love to run it past you.

“The Woodturning & Creative Arts” Podcast - Is this name too long? Should that be my subtitle or tag line? What do you think? Production of the show should start in approximatly one month. If you subscribe to my blog, I will have an announcement here. I will also be streaming live on Ustream TV to sort of get the hand of wood turning in front of a camera. I will also answer questions there as well as hopefully get some feedback and some episode ideas for the podcast.

So what do you think of the name? Too Long? Too short?? Let me know what you think. If you weigh in on the name…I just might send you something. Just leave me a comment and I will email you with information! Thanks for your ideas!

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I guess by the title of the post you figure…cool he’s gonna tell us how he does it. He’s going to give us the formula behind his artistic process. The fact is …I’m not that nice, and in all actuality…I’m not that good. I have many processes that lead me to an end result. I have many things that inspire me, and I have no real science behind the “process” except for one thing that is always in common with every piece I make.

“The Letting go of Things”

(mentioned in my photo documentary)

I talk to many artists that do what they do because they love it. They are not worried about the time in production, and they don’t really care if you like what they are producing. The fact is…they are producing for themselves. They produce from the heart and are not worried about the saleability of an item. Like Emeril Lagasse says in his popular cooking show….”It’s a food of love thing”

Then you have the other artist who is always concerned that every painting they make, or every page they write must be perfect. They are concerned about the way others will account for their work. They ask themselves, will anyone buy it, will anyone publish it, will they, will they, will they????

Which one sounds like the better situation to you. Thats what I thought, number one…..but is number two really the wrong way about going about it?

Number two will tell you that their livelihood is based on the fact that they sell their work. They sell you on the belief that their work has to have a commercial flare. They will tell you anything too weird, or too off the wall is just taking a risk. This sounds to me like they have taken the “inner child” out of the mix and added way too much practicality.

Hey, those are all valid points, but I would like to counter with this:

Have fun with your work…all the time.

Dont watch the clock except at the start and finish of a project

Don’t worry about “selling the piece”

Tune into your gut, your happy place. Create from a place of peace.

If your body tells you tonight isn’t the night….take a day off.

Don’t pressure yourself to produce more, faster, quicker, more, more, more.

Take yourself for art breaks, creative time with your thoughts. Walk through the woods or down a path.

Don’t be afraid to see art in everything you see, everything you read, and people you come in contact with.

When someone tells you a story…listen.

Last but not least “Let Go” Let your art flow through your heart. Don’t hold on so tight. There are no rules here.

I have heard of this thing called an artist block, or writers block. What in the world is that anyway? Please tell me? Or maybe you shouldn’t. The fact is this, I lie awake at night with enough ideas flowing than I could ever actually produce. This is not to come off as pithy, or snobby. I just don’t get those creative blocks, and I think I know why, but that is another blog post all together. For now, if you are an artist, a podcaster, a writer, a creative being….and you are stressing yourself out over production, what people might think, or what people might say….quit it. Take five minutes to yourself to meditate. Breathe from your solarplexus, and just tap into that gap between the notes. You’ll find that when the art is flowing from your heart rather than flowing from your ego, that you’ll produce better work, in less time, that is more salable to the end buyer because they will feel the love you put into your pieces.

Like that ole 80’s song goes by Bobby McFarren

“Don’t worry be happy”

For more out check out my flickr Pics

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A few days ago, I sat in a Wendy’s eating a chicken sandwich, and decided I wasn’t going to read, and I wasn’t going to do anything really except think. No pen, no pencil, no nothing. I decided I would just get quiet, and listen to my inner self.

As an artist, I do this quite frequently as your subconscious tends to answer questions, provide creativity, and blast artist block. This particular “getting Quiet” session provided me clarity that I had been looking for ..for quite some time now and I would like to share that with you.

I have always, always, always been creative. I have always been entrepreneurial, and I have always been a giver by nature. I had been kicking around some ideas in my head and this is the result of my session:

I will be releasing my website to the world www.magicwoodworks.com and I am hoping to be able to utilize itto leave a bit of a legacy behind. We come into this world with nothing, and we leave the world with nothing….all we can leave is knowledge, and a sense of having given back.

My recent moment of clarity has provided me with the how to. My website will be featuring a new initiative that I will be starting called Homes for Pets & Homes for People. I will donate a percentage of sales from all of my art and craft work online and off to a soon to be announced no kill animal shelter, and a small percentage will also be given to the local Habitat for Humanity. I will have a link on the site that will offer a transparent view of how much was raised on a monthly basis as well as the running total.

Also, I will use iJustin Tv or a similar service to do weekly woodturning demonstrations where I will create a piece, interact with the followers, and auction that piece off at the end. These weekly Videocasts will generate a higher percentage for the charity…I’m thinking 30 - 40% will be donated to the initiative.

Finally, but I’m sure not the last idea is to hold a live turning marathon once a year where I will turn for some obscene amount of hours, maybe even get some guest turners, and generate more high percentage items for the charitable initiative. Auction off all of the items turned and donate 30-40% off all of the monies to the charity.

This was my thaughts…my moment of clarity…I feel this is what I will be able to leave behind in my wake. If any of you know me you know that I am not self serving….I truely love to give back and I hope that this transparent initiative will spawn many others like it.

I would love any comments, suggestions, or feelings that you might have. Thanks…………..

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